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Five versatile actors deftly portray 42 colorful characters in a delightful production of "Around the World in 80 Days" held over at North Coast Repertory Theatre. Prepare for a brilliant theatrical trip by boat, train and imagination. FABULOUS THEATER DELIVERS AS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA    PREVIEWS THEATRE WEEK WITH LIVELY MIX OF TOP PRODUCTIONS          Katherine Ko as Tong, Ben Levin as Quang in San Diego Rep's funny, sad, fascinating production of "Vietgone," a fast-paced melange of war, family, social trials and love. STORY By CHRISTENE   MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and courtesy San Diego theaters THERE'S MORE TALENT in San Diego than one can shake a maestro's baton at. On any given evening, choose from nearly three dozen theatrical offerings -- musicals, comedies, dramas, period pieces, classics and cleverly crafted world premiers. WE ARE REVELING  in a romp on the boards to preview San Diego Theatre week, Feb. 15-25. Cygnet Theatre in Old Town features a drama about the last wife of Henry VIII Reduced tickets are offered for 29 venues. Check out the websites of these highlights we're sampling, and more: Kate Rose Reynolds, left, and Andrea Agosto perform flawless roles in Diversionary Theatre's challenging "Cardboard Piano."  *  "Around the World in 80 Days." North Coast Repertory Theatre. Watch suave adventurer Phileas Fogg circle the globe with his faithful and flamboyant servant,  encountering danger, romance and comic turns.  Stylish direction and dazzling costume changes showcase the versatile Will Vought, Loren Lester, Omri Schein,  Lovlee Carroll  and Richard Baird as they brilliantly deliver 42 eccentric and loveable characters.  Through Feb. 11.  northcoastrep.org The Lyceum in Horton Plaza is home to San Diego Repertory Theatre. * "Vietgone."  San Diego Repertory Theatre. Bold, sexy, funny love story is delightfully acted, mixing rap music, motorcycles, comic book aesthetics and martial arts with a thought-provoking story of race, war and surviving by one's wits.  As a family flees from Vietnam at war's end, it faces struggles and stereotypes in America with humor and heart.  Through Feb. 18. At the Lyceum.  sdrep.org *  "The Last Wife."  Cygnet Theatre. Engaging, wonderfully acted historical fiction about the only wife to survive the tempers and whims of Henry VIII.  The title references the audacious king's sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr, whose brains, bravado and quick thinking kept her head on her shoulders. Nimble direction and fine writing give new life to a nearly 500-year-old period, with contemporary twists. Through Feb. 11. In Old Town.  cygnettheatre.com Manny Fernandes and Allison Spratt-Pearce deliver star work in "The Last Wife" at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. Danny Stiles, left, and Steven Freitas are down-on-their-luck workers who scheme a strip act in "The Full Monty" at SDMT. *  "The Full Monty." San Diego Musical Theatre. An endearing company of guys play a sextet of unemployed Buffalo steel workers who decide to pay their bills by taking it all off. Raucous humor, a sassy female ensemble; endearing, catchy pop-rock score deliver thumbs-up stage version of the hit 1997 hit film proving there's more to a first-rate performance than perfect body types. SDMT is a bravura grassroots effort of a musical-loving local couple! Through Feb. 25 at Horton Grand.  sdmt.org *   "Cardboard Piano."   Diversionary Theatre. A teen-age daughter of an American missionary falls in love with a local teenage girl in Northern Uganda. They marry in secret, circa 2000, before civil unrest upends their lives. Diversionary again pushes the envelope with four fine actors, in an absorbing, sometimes shocking play which confronts weighty issues: same-sex relationships, intolerance, America’s relationship with Africa and the human capacity for forgiveness. Through Feb. 25.  diversionary.org La Jolla Playhouse has introduced many musicals and plays that go on to Broadway *"The Cake."  La Jolla Playhouse .  Rely on top-drawer work at the theater co-founded by Gregory Peck. LJPH's current drama drama also explores same-sex marriage.  The play has humor, pathos, sharp direction and an almost edible set. The storyline features a  a native North Carolina woman returning home from New York to ask her late mother's best friend to make her wedding cake. Beliefs are challenged, old values take on new clothes and the notion of love is explored as two brides head for the altar. Through March 4. At the Potiker Theatre. lajollaplayhouse.org Check out   SanDiegoTheatreWeek.com  for more details and offers. Wherever you are, support local theater. A well trained group of docents from Birch Aquarium educates enthusiastic whale watchers as Flagship follows the great gray whale's southern migration. UP NEXT :  We've a  whale of a tale to tell you, with our latest adventure in search of the great migrating gray whales.  We got up close with several mothers this week -- and even a newborn -- on their way south to the Baja's warm waters with Flagship's fine whale watching tour.  Remember to explore, learn and live, and catch us Fridays for a fresh look at the  arts, nature, family and travel. To book,  flagshipsd.com

Christmas morning on Hawaii, "the Big Island," presents a double rainbow to passengers aboard a Body Glove trip down the Kona coast. Today begins a two-part series on holiday wish lists.    bodyglovehawaii.com                                                                                                                                                     YULETIDE GREETINGS FROM AROUND THE WORLD! CONSIDER PLANNING A BUCKET LIST TRIP AS THE OLD YEAR ENDS AND A NEW ONE BECKONS DREAMS Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers afloat last Christmas. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The holidays in Hawaii are always colorful.  In downtown Honolulu, Nutcrackers surround a  merry Christmas tree and shop windows herald the arrival of Santa and his reindeer. IF YOU'RE HOME this Christmas, enjoy! But if you're yearning to kick the holiday up a notch, consider spending Christmas elsewhere next year.  Start planning now to get the best prices. Holiday hotels often sell out and prices increase for air as time gets closer. Here are a few ideas to jump start your dream. At Oscar's in Palm Springs, every day is a holiday with great shows and lively crowds. MUSEUMS and aquariums make wonderful family outings during the holidays and two of the finest we've visited are in Hawaii and New Zealand:                       New Zealand's Te Papa Museum  Honolulu's Bishop Museum   IF YOU love music, Vienna has one of the world's most famous chorales, the Vienna Boys' Choir. Their Christmas concerts will give you happy goosebumps. This venerable Austrian city offers of Skiing is a huge winter draw and favorite holiday pursuit in many western states, here Montana . delightful old-fashioned Christmas with sparkling holiday decorations and warming, fragrant gluhwein. The city boasts gorgeous imperial architecture. Outdoor Christmas markets display hand crafted ornaments and a bounty of tasty snacks. www.wien.info          Yuletide worldwide A tour guide in the tropics dons his Santa hat for a holiday tour. IN PALM  Springs, the Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Garden in nearby Palm Desert is a magical place.  More than 750,000 twinkling lights illuminate the park after dark, and it's a wonderful way to see the critters. The city's WildLights Holiday Festival is a drive-through holiday tradition to delight locals, tourists and families. Our favorite venue there is Oscar's Bar and Cafe, a lively cabaret fun any time.  The yuletide is special, though, with a delightful docket of drag shows with holiday flair.   livingdesert.org ; oscarspalmsprings.org Las Vegas was our choice for a recent New Year's Eve, here at the Bellagio. IN MY HOME state of Montana, skiing is a big winter attraction. Everyone knows Colorado has a lucrative corner on winter sports, but the Treasure State also offers resorts, B&Bs and a wide range of lodging at Big Sky, Whitefish, Bridger Bowl, Red Lodge and elsewhere. Lift tickets are cheaper, too, than in more famous resorts. SINCE KEVIN   Costner's TV's smash "Yellowstone," my beloved state has become a "bucket list" favorite for tourists, but there are still sanctuaries and unspoiled terrain to be found if you do your homework.  If you're a cross-country skier, Whitefish is close to Glacier National Park and its spectacular mountains. Glacier's breathtaking switchbacks and splendid cross-country skiing are tops. Happily, it's not yet "discovered."  In nearby Wyoming, Jackson Hole Fireworks are a big draw in many destinations, here on Waikiki Beach. Mountain Resort is a beautiful ski destination in the spectacular Grand Tetons. To access skiing in these two states, you can easily fly into Billings or Cody and rent a car. And Bozeman has many flights now, including a non-stop from Atlanta which my southern family uses. www.visitmt.com ; jacksonhole.com Vienna is a wonderful place for a holiday visit. Palaces, parks and churches are aglow and a renowned choir awaits to serenade you.  LOOK ON the internet for fun Christmas vacation ideas for families.  You'll find hundreds of ideas, of cities, towns and villages across the world offering everything from beach basking to winter sports.  Most tourist destinations have winter festivals and an opportunity to visit Santa. There are movie nights with holiday themes, tree lighting and fireworks festivals on New Year's Eve. One of the most spectacular fireworks events we've experienced is in Hawaii, on Waikiki Beach at Hilton's Hawaiian Resort. www.hiltonhawaiianresort.com Strasbourg in France goes all out for holiday light displays. EUROPEAN CITIES  and villages have celebrated the holidays for centuries. You'll find Christmas Markets from Vienna, Austria, to Cologne, Nuremberg and Freiburg in Germany, Ghent and Brussels in Belgium, and Prague in Czech Republic. Copenhagen in Denmark and many small Norwegian towns also have fabulous holiday displays.  We spent one yuletide in Bergen and Alesund on a Viking cruise and loved the festive immersion. Strasbourg in France shows off its local wares and goodies at Europe's oldest and most lavish market with Christkindelsmarik, dating to 1570. Performers tell the "Christ story" in elaborate costumes making the city a top Christmas destination. www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/ About to tuck into trdlenik in Czech Republic are Bruce Keller and Cookie. Vienna and Prague offer delightful old-fashioned Austrian and Czech Christmas spirit. Both are known for magnificent Gothic architecture, a spirit of gracious welcome and unique folkloric traditions. These two magnificent cities create an other-worldly feeling at their famed Christmas markets. Shoppers find beautifully decorated wooden huts filled with treats, unique craft gift items and ornaments for next year's tree. My favorite delicacy is spit-roasted ham. Keller loved trdelnik, a traditional hot sugar-coated pastry with nuts and cinnamon. IF YOU   really want to feel close to old Santa, head for Rovaniemi - Lapland, Finland. Rovaniemi is just north of the Arctic Circle and Finns believe it makes a better home for Santa than the North Pole. You'll meet Kris Kringle in this frozen winter wonderland of deep snow and pine forests where kids make cookies with Mrs. Claus and enroll in Elf School. Families enjoy husky-dog rides, tobogganing and the Northern Lights. For a super frosty stay, check into the Arctic Snowhotel, made entirely of ice, with has an ice bar, ice restaurant, ice chapel, Finnish sauna, and snow sauna. Are you packed yet? www.arcticsnowhotel.fi/en/ Cygnet Theatre's multi-talented Sean Murray plays an endearing Scrooge in the theater's popular "A Christmas Carol." Soon, Cygnet moves to a new home to be known as "The Joan." BEST BETS : Two holiday shows up through Christmas Eve deserve special attention in the San Diego area. "Miracle on 34th Street" is playing at Carlsbad's New Village Arts Theatre. It's a delightful radio-play musical take on the beloved 1947 movie about a young girl and Santa. Inspirational, moving and fast paced, with a strong cast, it is a lively production about a little girl's yearnings, the need to believe and the uplifting power of love. Favorite holiday tunes are cleverly interwoven in this revamp of the beloved film classic. Then Sean Murray creates the world's most endearing Scrooge in Cygnet Theatre's "A Christmas Carol."  Dancing, singing, comedy, lively staging and a heartwarming story make "Miracle on 34th Street" a hit at New Village Arts in Carlsbad. The venerable Old Town venue features director Sean Murray's poignant adaptation and his portrayal of the irascible but ultimately endearing Scrooge. A fine 7-person ensemble puts magic, music and imagination in this beautifully rendered production. As Cygnet wraps its tenure in Old Town, it prepares for its new larger home at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center at Liberty Station. It will be known as "The Joan," in honor of its major donors. For tickets to both: newvillagearts.org ; cygnettheatre.org   Start now to make your bucket list a reality, here on the Queen Mary 2. UP NEXT: New horizons for 2025. Why not take the trip or cruise you've been longing for? Start planning now for next year's holiday and you can make it work. Whether it's a summer or fall trip, or a goal for next Christmas, you can make it happen. If you're single, consider a low-interest loan or sharing a cabin. If you're a couple or family, figure ways to save and cut back on other areas and start a trip savings account.  Cruise lines sometimes offer deals for traveling with the family, as a single, or with generations. We'll offer ideas for holiday travel, and for fulfilling a bucket list dream.  It's possible to make a lifelong wish come true in the new year.  Think outside the box and remember, as a wise man said, "Everything you've ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.” — So don't be afraid to embrace an idea and make it a goal. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature and the arts.   www.whereiscookie.com

"Cambodian  Rock Band" is like no other musical. The writers of this column saw it recently at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The fine production comes to La Jolla Playhouse soon. -- photo courtesy Oregon Shakespeare Festival STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and courtesy theaters' marketing depts FROM THE  groundbreaking rock musical about a father and daughter and a southeast Asian band, to classic comedy by Neil Simon, a romantic adventure, a musical romance, historical drama and a stocking full of holiday shows, theater lovers can see a new production or two each week through year's end -- and be delighted with the mix. Jamie and Cathy are played with finesse by Michael Louis Cusimano and and Racquel Williams in Cygnet's "The Last  Five Years," on tap through Nov. 17. CYGNET THEATRE.  "The Last Five Years." Through Nov. 17. Billed as "an emotionally powerful and intimate musical" always energetic Cygnet features this charmer about two struggling New Yorkers in their twenties -- a novelist and actress -- who fall in and out of love over half a decade. With catchy solo turns, the music and lyrics showcase Jamie and Cathy as their relationship deepens and changes, and they face challenge both to the relationship and their individual desires.  Then Cygnet's always charming holiday musical tradition, "A Christmas Carol" with Sean Murray's clever adaptation. It runs Nov. 27-Dec. 29.   cygnettheatre.com Award winning internationally acclaimed David Sedaris' witty "The Santaland Diaries" comes to Diversionary Theatre. DIVERSIONARY THEATRE . "The Santaland Diaries."  This small, mind-challenging company presents a work written by comic and essayist David Sedaris.  His humorous account of a stint working as a Christmas elf in "Santaland" at Macy's department store is a sure holiday spirit pleaser. Sedaris first read the essay on National Public Radio's Morning Edition during the 1992 holidays and the story of the very unmerry elf has become a sardonic holiday classic. Diversionary continues its excellent tradition of LGBT work. Nov. 21-Dec. 22.  diversionary.org The approach to La Jolla Playhouse in evening. "Cambodian Rock Band" promises to delight opening soon.   La JOLLA PLAYHOUSE . "Cambodian Rock Band" Nov. 12-Dec. 15. We recently saw and loved this innovative production at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It is absolutely ground-breaking, touching, mesmerizing. Epic in its sweep, it is both play and rock concert, thrusting us into the life of a young woman with a mission: to discover family history from 30 years earlier. She knew little about her musician father who fled Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge's brutal assault on the land, its artists and thinkers. A gifted cast performs a mix of contemporary Dengue Fever hits and Cambodian oldies. A stellar ensemble presents "Ring Around the Moon" at Lamb's Players Theatre. A lively holiday show follows.   The San Diego connection is playwright Lauren Yee, UC San Diego alum, who brilliantly brings the Cambodian rock scene of the ‘60s and ‘70s to life. We're excited to see it again, a masterful story about the power of survival, family loyalty and enduring music. lajollaplayhouse.org LAMB'S PLAYERS THEATRE:  "Ring Around the Moon." Christopher Fry’s 1950   adaptation  of Jean Anouilh's "Invitation to the Castle." A romantic adventure about love, identity and money, it's winning praise for its lovely staging, strong ensemble work and light-hearted comedy.  Through Nov. 17.  Then the popular and always unique "Lamb's Festival of Christmas" runs Dec. 5-29.   lambsplayers.org Lisel Gorell-Getz as Mags, and Debra Wanger as Liz at Moxie. MOXIE THEATRE:  "Handbagged." Through Nov. 17. This ground-breaking company presents works by and about interesting women in a mission to showcase diverse and honest looks at the female gender. "Handbagged" features two characters, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ("Mags") and Queen Elizabeth II ("Liz,") with their older and younger versions played by four talented actors. The title references the handbags of the two same-age women who ruled with purses over their wrists. The play explores who really had the upper hand behind closed palace doors. It's winning raves.   moxietheatre.com New Village Arts' intimate space is a perfect venue for an imaginative production of "Around the World in 80 Days." NEW VILLAGE ARTS . "Around the World In 80 Days." Nov. 8-Dec. 22  The classic tale gets a new twist with original music as the mysterious, wealthy, lonely Victorian Phileas Fogg determines to circumnavigate the world in 80 days. On this belief, he has wagered his  fortune. Will bandits, buffalo, chivalry, an unreliable but faithful valet, and unrelenting inspector from Scotland Yard keep him from his impossible task? We follow Fogg and his eccentric companions aboard steamships, locomotives, and pachyderms as they learn about love, themselves, and the unanticipated.  With original pirate rock ‘n roll music by The Shantyannes.    newvillagearts.org Lenny Wolpe, as Willie Clark and James Sutorius as Al Lewis are endearing in "The Sunshine Boys," extended to Nov. 24. NORTHCOAST REPERTORY THEATRE: "The Sunshine Boys," is winning raves for its delightful rendition of Neil Simon's beloved comedy, the story of two cranky old actors who reunite for a final hurrah. North Coast Rep's ambitious artistic director David Ellenstein crafts a varied lineup for the theater's 38th season which opened with "Amadeus" and includes a Harold Pinter classic. The intimate house offers not a single bad seat and this production promises laughs and a perhaps a tear with the smile.  northcoastrep.org    "A Christmas Story" promises to delight, based on the popular movie (seen here), at San Diego Musical Theatre, with its ambitious season. SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATRE:  "A Christmas Story" runs Nov. 29-Dec. 29 after SDMT's sold-out production of "Man of LaMancha" with Robert J. Townsend as a moving Don Quixote. The lively holiday show is based on the classic film about family, a coveted gift ("you'll shoot your eye out") and growing up. The ambitious SDMT season includes the romantic comedy, "She Loves Me," Erin and Gary Lewis turned a lifelong love of musical theater into a San Diego gift. Tony winning "Rent," always winning "Little Shop of Horrors" and more. Musical theater buffs Erin and Gary  Lewis founded the enterprise in 2006. It features that dying breed, live orchestra, and has a loyal following for its inventive and varied varied repertoire. sdmt.org   SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE : "Hold These Truths" Ryun Yu plays all 37 characters in an emotionally charged production, "Hold These Truths" at SD Rep. Nov. 14-Dec. 8. One-man tour de force starring Ryun Yu in a work written by Jeanne Sakata. The story tells of a Japanese-American man who spent 50 years trying to avenge the injustice done to Americans of Japanese ancestry after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The actor plays all 37 characters in what promises the Rep's usual electric, thought-provoking theatrical experience. It comes on the heels of a brilliant comedy, "Bad Hombres, Good Wives." sdrep.org WELK THEATRE.  Welk Resort's always popular holiday show opens Nov. 22, a family musical entertainment.   "The Addams Family." Through Nov. 10. New musical comedy, with fun twists but loosely based on the TV show.  Campy action and a veteran cast.   "Welk home Home Nov. 22-Dec. 29 promises swinging sounds of traditional songs, contemporary work and a perfect family entertainment. Then the Broadway classic, “A Chorus Line” is up Jan. 10-March 22. This is one of the writer's "Top 10" Broadway shows, a concept musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. Don't neglect the resort's excellent tribute shows. welkresorts.com Train passengers arrive from many UK cities in York. UP NEXT:  Train, train, train...... England style.  Come with us to trace the evolution of rail travel as transportation evolved from stagecoach to trains. We ride the rails, old and new, as Cookie and Keller  explore the United Kingdom's long love affair with rail travel.  We take you to York's fabulous Railroad Museum, then catch a vintage steam train for a delightful 90-minute journey. Next, we go inside the beautiful Orient Express cars when rail travel was elegant and try a Britrail pass to London and more.  Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for a novel look at travel, the arts, nature and family.

TAKE A TASTY BITE . SAVE MONEY, TOO, WITH THE PASS THAT MAKES THE MOST OF MANHATTAN TIME Action-packed CityPASS maximizes precious time, gives options that show off a dozen of the world's most lively cities   The new World Trade Center Tower One is a magnificent memorial to a tragic event. Times Square is ablaze at night. CityPASS offers money-saving admissions and you skip the lines.  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER IF YOU HAVE  only five or fewer days in New York, and want to savor a large, tasty bite of The Big Apple, we recommend CityPASS. Enroute back from Europe recently, we decided to enjoy New York with this nationally known money-saving booklet. A trip to Ellis Island is a must for many visitors to New York, and a trip and visit are offered through CityPASS, or you can choose a river cruise. Thoughtfully chosen, the tickets include the best New York has to offer -- from world famous museums to historic buildings and monuments. A dozen cities and regions -- 11 in the U.S., and Toronto -- offer bargains on their town's best and most popular attractions. Bruce Keller and Christene Meyers enjoyed both day and nighttime visits to the Empire State Building, and the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. We loved it, not just because of the savings, but because once purchased, CityPASS offers a psychological advantage: You've invested in the city, paid your money, have your ticket book, so you don't want to waste it.  You get out of the hotel rather than squandering half the day lounging and drinking coffee (a temptation I succumb to, when I have a lovely hotel room with a view of one of the world's most amazing cities.) You can visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, or have a bird's eye view of both Liberty and the immigration museum from a Circle Line tour, part of your CityPASS options. WE WERE NOT  newcomers to New York City, but even seasoned Manhattan travelers can find the options for touring overwhelming. CityPASS helps you sort, taking confusion out of the equation. Experienced travelers and consultants who have lived in the cities pick the best attractions and present them in a user-friendly ticket booklet. YOU HAVE  six admission tickets, with entries good for nine consecutive days. From the Empire State Building to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a Circle Line cruise and a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, you will get your money's worth and more. Adults save 42 per cent by paying $114 (rather than $196 if you purchased tickets individually) or $89 for kids 6-17, compared to $171 over-counter price if you just walked in and purchased tickets. The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers antiquities and a splendid collection of art through the ages. AND INSTEAD OF rushing about, spending money on taxis from Midtown to The Village, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Ellis Island or the Empire State Building, you can plan your time, set your own pace by lining up attractions in a sensible fashion. CityPASS makes the best use of time by subway, taxi or on foot, also referencing which way is best to get you there. BESIDES CityPASS, we had tickets to five Broadway plays, in a 30-block area, ranging from Midtown Manhattan's theater district to Lincoln Center, where we saw a fabulous production of "The King and I" at the Vivian Beaumont. We tied in the play with a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with time for a stroll and cocktails at Central Park's Tavern on the Green. We loved seeing the city that never sleeps at our own pace, by-passing queues and making the most of our Manhattan time. If you're sandwiching plays in, CityPASS is great, too. Having 2 p.m. matinees on a couple days -- and curtains at 7 and 8 p.m. each evening made us exercise discipline with CityPASS options. We planned at least one activity in the morning and one in the afternoon or evening, depending on our theater commitments.  On the same day, we visited the magnificent Empire State Building in the morning, then returned in the evening after our play, for the delightful 360-degree open-air view of the city lit up. The nighttime entrance is an exclusive CityPASS bonus. You can also hook up with CityPASS in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California, Tampa Bay and Toronto.   Last Best News features our bear break-in story  www.citypass.com Large pools offer comfort to mourners and beauty and tranquility as international visitors pay homage to those lost in the tragedy of September 11, 2001. UP NEXT : A visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum left us sad and awed.  We'll share our morning there in the next blog. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live, and catch us each Wednesday as we enter our fourth year of global arts and travel with photos and adventures at www.whereiscookie.com

The Museo Picasso Malaga, above, opened in 2003 and features nearly 300 paintings.  Below, Merced Plaza which gives way to the Picasso Birthplace Museum, rear left. The Museo Picasso Malaga, above, opened in 2003 and features nearly 300 paintings.  Below, Merced Plaza which gives way to the Picasso Birthplace Museum, rear left. FATHER OF MODERN ART MEMORIALIZED IN HIS NATIVE CITY IN ANDALUSIA The Picasso Museum -- Museo Picasso Malaga -- houses many of Malaga's native son's works. Picasso's birth home is now one of two museums celebrating the master's life and contributions. Malaga tips its hat -- twice -- to the master with a pair of complementary but different Picasso museums Bruce Keller hams it up to a stoic Pablo Picasso, asking for directions from the master, who didn't reply. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Cookie (Christene Meyers) poses with Picasso, interrupting his sketching. ALTHOUGH HE LEFT  home town for good after only two decades, Pablo Picasso is proudly claimed as Malaga's native son. Two museums in the city honor him and we spent a wonderful day at the pair, exploring the evolution of a genius born into a patrician family, who answered the call of the arts and left Malaga for Paris. Our first stop was the Casa Natal Picasso, Picasso's birthplace museum.  After a breakfast snack with the master's bronze, we headed inside.  We spent the morning there, before heading for the fine Picasso Museum Malaga.   The Picasso Birthplace Museum sells attractive souvenirs. IN THE birthplace home gallery, or "Natal Museum," we reveled in a fascinating illustrated history of his life with drawings, letters, commentary and even his favorite cape. The property is off the popular Plaza Merced, surrounded by bistros and shops. Inside, a treasure trove of engravings, sketches and personal effects of the master awaits inspection. Photographs of his childhood, parents and family are a fascinating record of the fashions and privileged lives of the gentry, which his parents obviously were. Outside again in the Plaza Merced, we returned to sit with the master, memorialized in a handsome life size bronze, sketchbook and pencil in hand, patina on his head where thousands have rubbed it. The controversial "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Picasso. CONSIDERED BY  most experts and art aficionados to be the most important painter of the Twentieth Century, Picasso was born in 1881 at number 15 Plaza de la Merced. Declared a Historic-Artistic Monument of National Interest in 1983, Picasso's Birthplace Museum began on the first floor and expanded to the entire building. Picasso in his Paris salon, 15 years before he died in 1973. Visiting the birthplace museum first was a wise idea, for it prepared us for the painting museum's extensive repertoire later that day.  AFTER SEVERAL HOURS  at the birth place museum, which also houses ceramic pieces, we paused mid-day to picnic with the master's bronze in the plaza. A foundation supports the Museo Casa Natal. We watched as tourists -- including the two of us -- posed with Pablo, shared stories with him, put arms around him, even offered him a sandwich. Then on to the splendid if austere Museo Picasso Málaga, which pays homage to Andalusia's most famous son. It opened in 2003 in the Buenavista Palace, and is devoted to Picasso's dramatic paintings, 285 of which were donated by Picasso's family. Young Picasso, left, with his sister, in his birth home. THE TWO  museums are an absorbing point-counterpoint, with the natal museum's emphasis on scholarship, preparation and personal effects and the more traditional museum an artfully curated homage to his paintings. A wonderful library and ambitious program of temporary exhibitions and cultural activities also enrich Picasso's Birthplace Museum.  Fans of Miro, Chagall, Max Ernst, Georges Braque and other influential artists will enjoy an array of illustrated books donated by the painter's family. And fans of art history will appreciate the birthplace museum's fascinating notebooks of preparatory drawings for the famous work "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" (The Young Ladies of Avignon). This landmark painting of five splintered faces of prostitutes with masks marked the beginning of Picasso's "African Period," which inspired the artistic movement of cubism. Ironically, the master's most famous painting -- created in 1907 -- is housed not in Spain, but in New York's Museum of Modern Art. As the hilarious Captain Spaulding, Josh Odsess-Rubin brings down the house in Cygnet Theatre's rollicking performance of "Animal Crackers." NEXT UP:   If you've always wanted to visit San Diego in the summertime, and if you love old-fashioned well delivered musicals and comedy, you can laugh yourself into a happy stupor with the offerings in southern California right now. From "Guys and Dolls" to "Animal Crackers," and "The Buddy Holly Story," you can see a play a day.  Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays when we post for each weekend another lively look at the arts, nature and travel with a twist.

Malaga's seafaring history dates back centuries and modern Malaga is an attractive tourist destination for good reason. MUSEUMS, HIKING, DINING, RELAXING, BULL FIGHTS, FLAMENCO AND A FINE HOTEL -- WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE IN MAGICAL MALAGA? STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Parador Gibralfaro is our latest find, a true hotel gem in a city replete with gardens, museums, plazas and charming neighborhoods. Oh yes, and the sea. OUR VIEW  from the top of the city was hypnotic. We watched cruise ships come and go -- including the one that we would soon board for the Canary Islands, north Africa and an Atlantic crossing. We admired the energy and grace of would-be bull fighters having a lesson in the ring below us. We admired the marvelous Alcazaba, best preserved fortress in Spain, dating to the 12th Century Moors. The bull fight ring is empty of audience, but a pair of apprentice matadors in Plaza de Toros de La Malagueta is taking a lesson from the master. The scent of autumn foliage complemented our tasty olives and goat cheese from a nearby village. We'd shopped at the local market -- a tradition for us in a new city -- to buy happy hour appetizers and snacks unique to the region. WE ENJOYED  the user-friendly "Hop On, Hop Off" red buses to avoid renting a car, and found they took us everywhere we desired to go -- museums, cathedral, parks, gardens, restaurants, plazas. Our week in Malaga was relaxing -- yet one of our most active holidays. Castillo de Gibralfaro is among the oldest remaining citadel and fortresses in Spain. It is above the Parador Gibralfaro which is named after the fortress.  Barcelona beckons? Click here Malaga invites both of those essential elements for the vacationer. One can hike in the morning, tour a museum in the afternoon, enjoy a flamenco concert, tapas or late meal at night. Malaga's bountiful paella is world class. The birthplace of Picasso is rich with history and has been claimed and enjoyed by several great civilizations. The Romans created the marvelous Teatro Romano, in the first century B.C., in the time of Augustus I.  It has been carefully restored and is used as a concert space. Keller poses in a geranium patch at the Alcazaba. MUSIC IS  as much a part of Malaga as the ancient walls of the fortresses, its love of nature and affection for the cafe life. Guitarists play for tips -- brilliant musicians, who could be on concert stages. Rural Spain's beauty Buskers abound around the museums and public places, and one can sip a sangria while listening to first-rate musicians. Gifted street musicians abound on the streets of Malaga. We dined on shellfish and anchovies while listening to Bach chaconnes. Malaga is a shopper's delight.  Here, Keller finds his favorite N/A beer, while in the next aisle, Cookie shops for olives. Within walking distance are lovely cafes and bars, all beautifully flower bedecked.  Nature loving Malaguenos revel in the outdoors and even in November, we found them enjoying coffee, lunch and cocktails -- even dinner on the warmer nights -- al fresco, eager to share recommendations. The attractive southern European port played host to the Phoenicians who positioned themselves on the side of the mount of Gibralfaro, from which our elegant and welcoming Parador takes its name. Moors built their fortress Alcazaba upon the remains of Phoenician digs, constructing a grand palace with gardens, pools and running water over a period spanning the 11th to 13th Centuries when Muslim governors and royals called Malaga home. Cookie enjoys a moment with Pablo Picasso in Merced Square near the home, in the background, where he was born and raised.   Delights of Dali MUSEUMS WERE  a big part of our draw to this picturesque city. From Chagall paintings at the Russian Museum, to the beautiful primary-colored "cube" called Pompidou Center with its 20th and 21st Century works. Malaga boasts museums devoted to saints, bullfighting, flamenco and wine, and airplanes, so we could easily have spent another week.  The city's automobile museum is one of the finest in the world, a sleek and engaging blend of cars and fashion. Malaga has more than two dozen museums to nourish the curious soul. WE SOAKED  up splendid Chagalls at the Russian Museum and enjoyed the fine Picasso Museum as well as a fascinating illustrated history of his life with drawings, letters, commentary and even his favorite cape in the "Natal" museum in which he was born. Outside in the Plaza Merced, we even sat with the master. He is memorialized in a handsome lifesize bronze, sketchbook and pencil in hand, patina on his head where thousands have rubbed it. We rode in a horse drawn carriage, noticing carriage, driver and steed meticulously groomed and cared for. We climbed a pretty walkway to the Alcazaba we had admired for days, delighting in this thousand-plus year old marvel of art and architecture. We recommend the Hop On, Hop Off bus pass, a bargain way to navigate the city. So much did we enjoy the two loops that we made two forays, enjoying a well written commentary. MALAGA'S  PARKS  and boulevards are second to none. Its tourist bureau ranks among the best we've visited, with dozens of helpful maps, brochures and cheerful staff. A perfect holiday, our Malaga week. http://www.malagaturismo.com/ UP NEXT :  Valentine's Day approaches so time to think beyond candy and flowers -- how about a pair of tickets for you and your sweetie to a play about love? "Freaky Friday" at La Jolla Playhouse is a charming tale, a well acted, beautifully orchestrated musical. Based on the 1976 Disney movie, the title doesn't begin to convey the delights of this gem. Theater tickets are a fun alternative to candy and flowers.  Or how about a hot air balloon treat? A gift card for golf on a green you've never tried?  Entrance to a new museum or a movie night out. If you're lucky enough to live near water, how about a dinner cruise? If you have deep pockets, consider a note in a deck of cards pledging a long weekend in Las Vegas. Or take your last Playbill and turn the cover into a promise of a trip to New York, Las Vegas or New Orleans. Sky's the limit, even if you're watching the budget. Be creative. Think "homemade" and "heartfelt." We have suggestions to help Cupid. Remember to explore, learn and live and check us out Fridays when we post a fresh take on the arts, adventure and nature-driven travel. A charming play about love gets standing ovations at La Jolla Playhouse. "Freaky Friday" features a tender story,  fabulous music and terrific acting. Cruising New York's famous harbor may not be in your budget -- but perhaps a dinner cruise in a closer town is. Be imaginative this Valentine's Day.

Barcelona's La Sagrada Familia is the city's most spectacular architectural feat, Gaudi's masterpiece still under construction. All eyes are on the Cathedral, as a tour guide describes its showy wonders, including pineapples and saints. It is a must-see in Barcelona, enjoyed by Cookie and her group of explorers. LIVELY CATALAN CAPITAL HAS IT ALL:  Food, fun walking, friendly folk, history, fab hotels, fine food, delightful drink "Where you going?' Barcelona. Oh, don't get up.  Do you have to?  Yes I have to.  Oh.  Don't get up." STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER THOSE ARE LYRICS  from a Stephen Sondheim song, sung by soon-to-part lovers, Bobby and April, who have spent a lovely night together.  She's a flight attendant, off to Barcelona. He doesn't want her to leave. And that's how you'll feel when your time in Barcelona is drawing to a close. But before this good thing comes to an end, enjoy this gaudy, "Gaudi great," gregarious city to its fullest. Barcelona, that glorious vibrant Catalan capital, is the jewel in Spain's "fun city" crown.  Sure Madrid is exciting, too, and stately with its wide promenades and friendly people.  The Barcelona skyline unfolds from Park Guell, and Gaudi's house, Casa Batllo, also in Barcelona, is a fairyland of mosaic, color, gingerbread, whimsical enticement and fun. A beautiful, small box with inlay, is for sale for a bargain 20 Euros. But Barcelona, that glorious vibrant Catalan capital, is the jewel in Spain's "fun city" crown. Sure Madrid is exciting, too, and stately with its wide promenades and friendly but more reserved citizens whose dress is also more formal. Wine and water, two staples, of a meal in Barcelona. A seafood and asparagus crepe awaits a taste in a tapas bar. Then,  ah, Barcelona, that glorious vibrant Catalan capital, is the jewel in Spain's "fun city" crown.  Sure Madrid is exciting, too, and stately with its wide promenades and friendly Travelers enjoy an opportunity to shop in a local market, here one near their hotel in Barcelona. Artwork abounds in a variety of Barcelona's many museums. BUT LOVELY  Barcelona has everything -- art, architecture, abundant walking options, history, fabulous hotels and, museums aplenty, including one devoted to Pablo Picasso, who lived and painted in this zesty Catalan capital for many years.. Las Ramblas goes from the old part of town to the Mediterranean. You'll want to visit his home, now a popular museum, where you can wander around his  patios and personal space, enjoying his sense of playfulness and artistic eye for the weird.  After you visit Casa Mila, head for other Gaudi delights including Sagrada Familia Cathedral and don't miss Casa Batllo and Palau Guell, each distinctive and reflective of Gaudi's evolution before his untimely death by streetcar in his beloved native city. THE MEDIEVAL  heart of the Old City, the Barri Gòtic is an intriguing spider’s web of alleyways and secluded squares.  It is a fine way to get the feel of the city, and you'll want to wander Las Ramblas, the main thoroughfare, for its mimes, shops, eateries and occasional pick-pockets. Hold your purse close or leave it in the hotel, and guys, put your wallets in your front pocket. Barcelona also sports grand architecture, including the Plaça Sant Jaume flanked by the Renaissance palace of the Generalitat (head of Catalan government) and the gorgeous neo-classical façade of the Ajuntament, Spanish city hall. www.visitbarcelona.com www.barcelonaturisme.com      Castle, Montana, was once a booming mining town and residents didn't build with the thought of leaving.  Today, it's falling to ruin. COMING UP:   Ever been to a ghost town? With the spooks and goblins out for Halloween, here comes a look at Castle, Montana, an abandoned, once stately village built for a mining boom that never happened. And we've found a fabulous musician, entertaining weekends in an Encinitas cafe. Remember to explore, learn and live, and visit us Wednesdays and weekends for a fresh look at travel, the arts and life's adventures, at: www.whereiscookie.com

A few blocks from Las Ramblas, tourists usually take in Antoni Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia. GLOBAL CITIZENS MUST STAND TO HALT TERRORISM, CONTINUE TO TRAVEL STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER SINCE I BEGAN  traveling internationally, as a young girl, I've been lucky. I travel cautiously -- as much as one can -- but I've been fortunate in my timing. San Franciscan Jared Tucker was not so lucky. He is among the dead in Thursday's terrorist attack in Barcelona. Jared Tucker and Heidi Nunes Tucker on their belated honeymoon in Spain . He was among the Las Ramblas victims. Tucker was celebrating a belated honeymoon, enjoying Las Ramblas with his wife, Heidi, strolling, toasting, taking in the sunshine of a perfect late summer day. A visit to Las Ramblas usually includes a stroll, street buskers, flowers, cafes and music. Also known as "La Rambla," the street in central Barcelona is among Europe's most beautiful.  I've strolled it dozens of time with tourists from dozens of countries, buying trinkets and flowers, sipping cafe con leche or vino blanco. Just as Tucker and his wife Heidi were doing when he went to use the men's room. They were separated as the van plowed into pedestrians; he died. THE STREET--  popular with tourists and locals alike --is known as Las Ramblas. Its Catalan pronunciation is "La Rambla" but since the tree-lined pedestrian mall includes many smaller side streets, the plural has become common. Cookie and a Spanish guide visit, with tourists from Italy Austria, Australia, Israel and the Netherlands two years ago. We've had pleasant lunches and dinner along the picturesque 1.2 kilometer-walkway, which connects Plaça de Catalunya in town center with the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell and the sea where Columbus set off to discover the new world. I've been mugged on Las Ramblas, but, thank the gods, not injured. I HAVE BEEN so traumatized by this latest attack that I am losing sleep.  While my grief isn't personal, I mourn with the Tucker family for the turn of fate and timing that took their loved one. I lost my first husband on a Valentine's week trip in 1992.  I know the sorrow and trauma of leaving for a joyous romantic time then returning home with a canister of cremains.  "How could this happen?" Tucker's stunned father asked. "This was my son's first big trip to Europe." Watch the crowds around you and be aware of suspicious movement. Don't hesitate to stop a policeman or make a phone call, here in downtown Barcelona. The purpose of this departure from our usual travel-arts-nature pieces is to share my thoughts since yesterday, hoping in some small way I can contribute to a more peaceful planet. FIGHTING TERRORISM  is an overwhelming concept, but I'm wondering if we are doing as much as we can to protect ourselves and contribute some measure of good will and brotherhood to our troubled world. Most of us know that ignorance and fear are responsible for today's terrorism.  Whether the Islamic State, ISIS,  the resurgence of the Nazi symbol, the shameful Virginia and North Carolina incidents with racial epithets and death, we are surrounded by intolerance, fear and ignorance.  I may be naive in thinking that being more "global" could help.  It gives me a modicum of hope to write a check to a charity that fights global poverty. MY PERSONAL CREDO  -- to do what I can to prevent terrorism -- means fostering better social conditions and banging the drum for inclusion and tolerance. Beautiful Las Ramblas from a hotel room perch. When family and friends asked me today if we are still planning our annual Spain trip, I said, "absolutely."  We consider ourselves unofficial ambassadors, traveling proof that Americans are decent, good, people, that we are generous, polite, broad minded, curious, accepting. As we go, we will be aware of potential threats, and alert to activity around us.  My late husband, Bruce, and I were at the Athens Airport in 1973 when Arab gunmen opened fire in a nearby lounge, killing three tourists and wounding 55. We heard the shots and hit the ground. I FLEW OUT of Incheon Airport in Seoul in October of 1979, the day President Park Chung-hee was assassinated.  I left the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem in 1997 moments before a bombing that killed several people. Keller and Cookie on a recent Barcelona trip. Keller and I visited Cairo's Tahrir Square weeks after the uprising in 2011. We were in Sydney, Australia, during a 2014 terrorist attack at Lindt Cafe.  We'd dined there the day before. After Spain, we've booked a concert in Paris at the Bataclan, home of the horrific 2015 massacre. It's a gorgeous 1865 building and I've heard several fabulous concerts there. WE MUST NOT  stop traveling, as open-minded, curious citizens of the world.  That's giving in to the terrorists' dearest hopes: to disrupt and frighten. We must be vigilant, too.     Coos Bay affords beautiful water views, here from a plush jacuzzi at Mill Casino Hotel, which offers elegance, fine fare and gambling. UP NEXT : Oregon's wonders extend to the beaches, dunes and bays.  Coos Bay is on Cookie's list of favorite places, with its mix of scenery, sun, wildlife and a gambling resort, Mill Casino Hotel, to exorcise her demons! Join us for the fun, remembering to explore, learn and live.

Cruises to her ancestral homes -- Norway and Ireland -- were gifts to Ellen Cosgriffe from her daughters, Robbie, standing, and Christene (Cookie) at right. Left is Ellen's granddaughter, Amarylla, who joined her aunties to celebrate Ellen's birthday in Europe. EMERALD ISLE VISIT WITH MUM LIVES ON IN HAPPY CARPE DIEM MEMORY  Happy St. Patrick's -- may the spirit of celebration continue STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Dublin's St. Patrick's Cathedral was a stop during a jam-packed day of sightseeing THE CELEBRATION couldn't have been more appropriate.  It was March 17, and our ship was pulling into Dublin Bay. We'd had a wonderful dinner the night before, celebrating my mother's 80th birthday for the 10th or so time. And of course, it was St. Patrick's Day.  Mum was already crying -- "tears of ecstasy," she sniffed, "because I am so very, very happy." I'd promised her trips to Ireland and Norway for her 80th birthday, and this was the Irish leg of several sea journeys with my beloved mother Ellen and other family members. Dublin Bay Cruises took us around the city by water, a fun outing. As we navigated the C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea, on Ireland's east coast, mum looked and felt very Irish.  She had chosen a green shirt, white tam and had her favorite "lucky" shamrock green socks. Dublin's famous Temple Bar was a pub stop on a memorable tour of Ireland with Cookie's late mother, Ellen, who played piano and fiddle there and sang a medley of Irish tunes with the house band. Dublin's famous Temple Bar was a pub stop on a memorable tour of Ireland with Cookie's late mother, Ellen, who played piano and fiddle there and sang a medley of Irish tunes with the house band. Ellen and her daughters Robbie and Christene pull into harbor aboard Royal Princess on one of several European cruises for a beloved mum. DUBLIN BAY stretched 10 kilometers wide before us as I looked at my notes. We had only a long day in which to explore this colorful capital of the Republic of Ireland. I'd planned a Dublin Bay boat ride, and look at the River Liffey, a tour of historic buildings including 13th Century Dublin Castle, and the imposing St. Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in 1191. We'd have a walk through beautifully landscaped St Stephen’s Green then taxi to Phoenix Park for a zip through Dublin Zoo. The National Museum of Ireland with its wonderful collection would cap the full day, then a light supper at the famous Temple Bar pub before our ship sailed at 9 p.m. Mum was the hit of the bar that night, playing a fiddle a bandsman loaned her. When he complimented her green outfit, complete with shamrock pin, she demured: Cookie and her mother, Ellen, wearing the green. 'I'LL LET YOU guess what color my underwear is." He laughed at her coy remark.  Mum was always a bit naughty. Later that night, I played an Irish medley on board Celebrity Century. People gathered and sang along --  a memorable evening.  Cookie found a quiet bar to entertain as a capper to a fun St. Patrick's Day shipboard. MY GREATEST take-away from the trips I've had with friends and family is "don't hesitate, do it." I promised my youngest brother, Patrick, a trip to Ireland, which was at the top of his bucket list.  He passed away last month before we could make the journey.  His health was failing and try as I might, we couldn't work it out. I wish I'd arranged it 10 years ago. So happy I had cruises with sisters Robbie and Peny, both gone now, too. Dancers kicked during our St. Patrick's day visit. Check off your bucket list "How old am I really?" mum asked us one night. (She wasn't quite 80 yet on that last cruise, but we'd rounded it off to make things easier and more memorable.) When we told her, "You're still 79," she said, "Oh I'm relieved. I didn't think I was as old as 80 yet!"  A fire dancer flashes and dances his way to a standing ovation from the crowd at Hilton's Garden Inn in Kauai. UP NEXT : Fire dance! It connotes the rhythmic and pulsing sounds of drums, shouting, singing and dance.  The centuries old fire dance is both celebration and cultural tradition.  Pacific cultures have long used fire and movement to signify loss, mourning, joy, celebration and sensuality. The dances can even be used for religious worship and war preparation. Let us take you to one of the world's best fire dances, on the quiet island of Kauai at Hilton Garden Inn. The fire dance is the loudest activity on this peaceful island with leading musicians, dancers and singers from the South Pacific. Explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, culture, nature, family and the arts:  www.whereiscookie.com

Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Cubby Broccoli and Princess Anne at the premiere of "The Spy Who Loved Me." STORY and PHOTOS By CHRISTENE MEYERS and courtesy United Artists THE INVITATION  came by certified mail -- delivered to the newsroom where I worked many years in Billings, Montana. I was invited to see the Queen -- not a drag show diva from a Vegas hotel. The real deal. Queen Elizabeth II.  I flew off to a five-day party, whose zenith would occur on 7-7-77, in celebration of the Queen's Silver Jubilee and the debut of the latest 007 movie, "The Spy Who Loved Me." (The Queen's a fan of Bond. James Bond.)  That Bond film starred Roger Moore, who passed away this week at age 89.  He and his leading lady, Barbara Bach, would take part in the revels. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip greet crowds of well wishers at Buckingham Palace during festivities celebrating her 1977 Silver Jubilee. The royal family would attend a black tie opening of the film at Odeon Cinemas in Leicester Square. Three dozen U.S. film reviewers and travel- arts writers were guests of United Artists, invited through famed James Bond film producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, who hand-picked the journalists. Cookie attended one of London's famous street parties, July of 1977, celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's 25th year. WE WOULD spend five hectic days and "black tie" nights in London, based at the plush InterContinental Hotel in Mayfair.  We'd attend the world premiere of the film, have lunch in Kew Gardens, afternoon tea at the elegant Dorchester Hotel, a morning at the British Museum and afternoon at Tate Gallery, meet members of the royal family at a reception and join revelers at two of London's famous street fairs.  Five of us would interview Moore. A quick run across the Piccadilly, just the right place to catch the Queen's Guard passing by Hotel InterContinental. Broccoli, a jovial, smart film scholar, whose hobby was cooking, liked my interview style and film critiques.  He knew I was a musician and would appreciate the film's theme song -- "Nobody Does It Better," famously sung for the picture by Carly Simon. Broccoli was instrumental in choosing the theme song and at a later United Artists film junket, he asked me to play it on the piano. INVITATION IN HAND, I approached my editor, Doc Bowler, a shrewd veteran newsman who knew a potential story when he saw it. I traded a few days off for a series of stories.  I bought my black-tie dress at Hart-Albin, during a quick lunch break (I still have it, a tasteful floor-length swishy gown with just the right amount of decolletage.) In New York, our chartered plane to London was late. I played the piano --show tunes, Cole Porter and Gershwin -- for two hours. This gave me cache for the interview, I'm certain. The always spirited "Queen Mum" was a highlight of the 1977 press trip. Cookie did not meet Prince Charles, but did meet her favorite royal. Sir Roger Moore loved London, but preferred Switzerland. Roger Moore as 007. Among other highlights of the visit -- one of 20-plus trips I've made to London -- was watching the The Queen's Life Guard, prance down Piccadilly from a penthouse suite at the InterContinental. We reporters grabbed our cameras, crossed the street and photographed them passing our hotel. WE MET both Princess Anne and the Queen Mum (the Queen Mum by far my favorite, for her wit and warmth -- the Scottish influence, no doubt.) The parties were great fun -- thousands of merry Englishmen toasting the queen on streets, lawns and in pubs. But the highlight of the five days was being chosen to interview Roger Moore, who was well into his seven-Bond run between 1973 and 1985. I'd watched him as a kid, playing a favorite TV show of my dad's, "The Saint," in which he portrayed that appealing worldly adventurer, Simon Templar. We loved how he navigated the globe in a spiffy white Volvo in a hit series between 1962 and 1969. Roger Moore as TV's The Saint. Bond.  James Bond. Moore was an elegant 007. WHAT I REMEMBER most about the interview was Moore's elegance -- he put the five of us at ease immediately in his penthouse suite, offering shrimp and tea sandwiches and a full bar, where he recommended white wine -- he didn't drink martinis --   shaken or stirred.  One of the memorable quotes from the interview: "I believe in love, generosity, good manners. Those should be taught in school." He talked about his thrill at being picked by Broccoli in 1972 to play Bond. "I was ecstatic. I had never been a cinema star, although I had TV success.  I found out from Cubby that I had been short-listed to play Bond a decade earlier for "Dr. No."  The part went to some Scottish guy named Sean." The evolution of "Nobody Does It Better" to be the movie's theme song is classic Hollywood, show biz story stuff. He talked about the lushness of the film's theme song, written by Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager.  He thought it interesting that the only mention of the movie comes in the first verse: "Like heaven above me, the spy who loved me is keepin' all my secrets safe tonight." Roger Moore in his last years. The dapper and erudite 007 endures. A FAN OF  trivia, he also told us that Hamlisch and Bayer Sager didn't write the song for the movie; producer Richard Perry convinced them to submit it for the film, and Broccoli loved it. Cubby asked the two to rework the song to make the lyric work for the 007 picture. The rest is history.  Except, perhaps for "Goldfinger," Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better" is one of the most enduring, 007 theme songs. Roger Moore endures as my favorite Bond -- and that of many other 007 fans. Dapper, elegant, suave on screen -- and off camera, a gentleman. Less than two weeks after surgery performed by Dr. Jonathan Fisher, left, Bruce Keller's recovery is breaking records (knock wood). More next week. NEXT UP : Bruce Keller's successful liver transplant at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, Calif., has attracted international attention on our blog with thousands of hits and comments from Peru to Portugal, Italy to Ireland, Singapore to San Francisco.  At the Patient Patient's suggestion, we bumped our follow-up to the next posting. The always trending Mr. Keller deemed that Cookie's interview with Sir Roger Moore should go this week, current with Moore's recent passing. Next, we'll talk about the challenges of the transplant, as Keller breaks endurance records at Scripps. We'll describe fundamental changes in our lives, wrought by the transplant, and our schedule for getting back on track with theater, writing, his design and contracting work and our international travel. With an eye on the road ahead, remember to laugh, learn and live, and catch us weekends.

Aquarium The Aquarium of the Pacific's beautiful Lookdown Fish are one of many engaging displays. We visit it and Maui Ocean Center, another fine aquarium, in today's post about the creatures of the sea. TAKE YOURSELF INTO A WORLDOF UNDERSEA WONDER AT FABULOUS CALIFORNIA, HAWAII AQUARIUMS A life-size whale greets school children and families at the spectacular Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.   STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER ONCE YOU'RE hooked on aquariums and can't miss a museum devoted to underwater wonders, you're a sea fan for life.  You never ignore an opportunity to get close to the creatures and life in the mysterious depths and alluring shadows of the sea. We find pleasure in the grand ones -- like the fabulous Monterey Bay Aquarium-- and we've spent equally engaging time at tiny, impressive facilities devoted to the ocean, such as Hilo's fine Pacific Tsunami Museum. The impressive Aquarium of the Pacific awaits in Long Beach, with magnificent exhibits and convenient nearby parking with plenty of other enticements from shopping to dining in the area . TWO RECENT finds merit our attention. They should both be on a "must see" list if you are a devotee and anywhere near. They are the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and Maui Ocean Center in Hawaii.   First, we take readers to the Long Beach facility.  It's an enormous, eye-popping place, with well marked exhibits guaranteeing a fabulous outing for all ages. We mingled on a week day with tourists, local families and school groups. It's a delightful learning sanctuary for singles and couples, too.  It features shows at many major exhibits. One offers a chance to mingle with and feed birds in the lorikeet forest.  We enjoyed the seal and sea lion exhibits featuring these magnificent creatures who live throughout our coastal waters. There's a shark lagoon with two touch pools, and children were enamored by these. Frogs are front and center at Long Beach facility,  a colorful array from around the world. You can  paint your own virtual frog in Pacific Visions. The aquarium offers an attractive outdoor space overlooking picturesque Rainbow Harbor. Times of the shows are announced and posted so you can plan your time.         Visit Tsunami museum The place, like the one in Maui, is dedicated to preservation.  It  hosts a modern veterinary hospital with holding tanks and animal habitats.  Experts are on hand to care for displaced or injured creatures.  The splendid tropical reef habitat is the Long Beach aquarium's largest exhibit, with 350,000 gallons of saltwater. We spent nearly an hour watching fish, rays, sea turtles and sharks glide among the coral. This is a star of 100-plus exhibits and 19 major habitats, including a gallery devoted to southern California and Baja coasts. Among our favorite is the impressive penguin habitat with the playful Magellanic ones we saw recently on a trip   The penguin exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific has a fine penguin habitat and breeding program.  off the South American coast. It's wonderful to see these beautiful creatures carefully tended and increasing under human care. WE ARE devoted "frog fans," so the frog nursery completely captivated us.  We admired the flash red and black poison dart frog and learned that his venom is produced by the food he eats.  We were charmed by the Kaiser's Mountain Newt, endangered due to habitat degradation and fish predators. The place is a living classroom. You're certain to come away better educated about our fellow planet dwellers. The aquarium offers great location, easy parking, At Maui Ocean Center, artful scenes divide the exhibits. This one was painted by communication manager's daughter for a high school project, one of the ways the aquarium involves and educates. fabulous displays. Harbor Breeze Cruises in Long Beach has a partnership with the aquarium. Take advantage of that, to explore the ocean. It's an intriguing, world class facility. The smaller, equally dedicated Maui facility is noteworthy, too. Read on.     * A FEW THOUSAND miles across the Pacific, Maui Ocean Center is also an impressive facility. It features more than 60 interactive exhibits, including a nursery bay and a turtle lagoon where you can get close-up views of favorite marine life. We visited on a Sunday afternoon, surrounded by families learning about Hawaii’s diverse underwater world.  Children of all ages peered at sea jellies, tropical reefs and a shy, corner-dwelling octopus, with nicely marked and pleasant outdoor trails to get you from one exhibit to the next. The place features over 11,000 animal species and more than 50 exhibits, showcasing the diverse marine life found in the Pacific. We were charmed by this aquarium for its originality, color, devotion to the sea and imaginative exhibits, enhanced by artwork created by locals. Diver and Ocean Center staffer, Paul, shows visitors how coral is grown and preserved to insure it is not lost in these times of threat to the oceans and coral. THE PLACE is a riot of color.  From the vibrant colors of tropical fish to the sleek sea otters, we found an opportunity to learn at every corner. In the coral reef lab, Paul explained how coral is incubated and reproduced to replace damaged or lost coral when necessary. Discovery, learning and educating the next generation are the bywords here. The artwork is gorgeous, too, in this lovely facility near Wailuku.  Naturally, it focuses on Hawaii's unique marine life -- right out the door.  "We think it's a great place to learn about the ocean’s beauty up close, with the shores right outside," says communication director Mike Morris. He emphasizes conservation and education goals of the aquarium. "We make a visit both fun and educational." Maui Ocean Center is smaller than its Long Beach Visitors to Maui Ocean Center will find pleasures once inside the entry.  Guests are still outside for many of the exhibits. There's a tunnel, too, with sea creatures swimming above.    counterpart, but shares an equally interesting variety of inhabitants. There are colorful fish, beautiful sea turtles, sharks, rays and an impressive living reef exhibit, which showcases Hawaii's unique corals while preserving and growing replacements. With exhibits aimed at awareness, it's fun to see children expanding their knowledge, asking questions, beginning to understand the importance of keeping the oceans healthy.   WE ENJOYED an interactive experience featuring the humpback whale. It's a 3D "Sphere Experience" which transports guests into the underwater world of these fascinating, once endangered gentle giants.     Jellyfish are well represented at both aquariums, and both emphasize conservation and education. Here, two graceful jellies seem to enjoy the day.      Maui facility also pays homage to the indigenous culture and its connection to the ocean. “Hawaiians and the Sea” beautifully explains the historical and cultural significance of the ocean in Hawaiian society. The Long Beach aquarium collaborates with Harbor Breeze Cruises for a lively harbor tour. The operation also offers whale watching.  Like the Aquarium of the Pacific, Maui Ocean Center offers an artful entry.  And once inside, you're "outside and in the sea" with a wealth of exhibits to entertain and educate about our precious oceans.  Tickets, more information: aquariumofpacific.org   562 590-3100 harborbreezecruises: 2seewhales.com ; 562 432-4900 mauioceancenter.com  808 270-7000 Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers enjoy an afternoon on the water aboard Endless Dreams. They booked a Sunday brunch cruise with City Cruises, which offers many options  for special occasions or "just because" out of various ports in southern California and beyond.   COMING SOON: With summer in full swing, so many options lure the traveler to explore, learn and enrich life. We're climbing aboard a beautiful yacht for a brunch cruise around picturesque Newport, California, then we spend an afternoon on the American Pride, a graceful three-masted schooner berthed in Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach. It is a proud California vintage sailing vessel, dedicated to education.  Then we hop on Big Bus to tour Singapore and Sydney, visit koalas and kangaroos in Lone Pine, Australia, and return to America to explore New York's lovely Central Park as it blossoms out with its summer cloak. We'll also head to New York's High Line to explore its gorgeous gardens and repurposed space, then head to Bermuda for a dive into its famous caves. Meanwhile, consider a City Cruises brunch or dinner cruise for a special occasion this summer, and remember to explore, learn and live. Catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, waterborne adventure, performance, the arts, family, nature and more.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Blog tidings – from the Beartooths of Montana to the coast of southern California.  In three days, we’ve seen bighorn sheep mating and pelicans diving, making us aware of our good fortune in having two wonderful states to call home. Back from a month in Big Sky Country, we’ll winter in San Diego. Our goal for the new year is to provide regular posts of our travels, both global and domestic.  Last year, we traversed three continents in addition to making bounteous treks in North America.   In the months ahead, we plan trips to Ashland, Oregon for the Shakespeare Festival, to New Mexico to perhaps help friends finish a retirement home, to New York for plays, to Barcelona for a trans-Atlantic crossing, and a transit the Panama Canal.  Who knows what else? Whale watching is on our agenda, plenty of music, a writing workshop and exciting construction projects.  If you like what you see, and would like to be part of our ongoing adventures, please sign up for e-mail updates and tell your friends!